Garment-hanger



J. A. SHOEMAKER.

GARMENT HANGER.-

APPLICATION lflLED MAR. 23. 1919.

1 367,629. Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

anvcnfoz Jisqplzfl. Shoemaker UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. SI-IOEMAKER, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

I GARMENT-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed March 28, 1919. Serial No. 285,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. SHon- MAKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGarment-Hangers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use thesame.

The invention relates to garment hangers or clothes hangers and isparticularly directed to a collapsible folding type of device, which maybe adjusted as desired, to support a plurality of objects or garmentsthrough intermediate clothes hangers.

It is, in effect, a rack of a collapsible form which may be readilyapplied to a wall or the like and adjusted to receive any desired numberof clothes hangers.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a device having greatstability and load-carrying capacity, with a minimum number of parts,and with facilities for readily folding and packing :-the same.

A further object is to provide for adjustability to meet variousconditions, so that the device may be applied and adjusted into aposition for sustaining maximum loads and with freedom from liability ofdisplacement. It may be suspended from a hook, and is so designed as tosupport an unusual Weight with a minimum supporting strain on the nailor hook from which the suspension is eifected.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a'view illustrating the hanger and its method of applicationto a supportin nail or hook.

Fig. 2 illustrates the hangerv folded.

Fig. 3 is a rear end view showing the abutting arms, in dotted outlines,to illustrate the adjustment. j c

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the universal swivel.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the parts of the clamp device for thetelescoping members.

In my issued Patent No. 1,293,958, issued February 11, 1919, Ihaveillustrated and described a clothes hanger for similar purposes whichinvolved a tension member and a compression member forming a strut togive rigidity to the structure when in place. In the device of thisapplication, the various elements were non-flexible and the device wasaccordingly somewhat cumbersome as compared with the invention hereindisclosed.

The present invention is an improvement upon said application andembodies a foldlng, collapsible structure in which the tenslon memberand the support are flexible, being in fact formed of a flexible chain,cord, or the like, while the compression memher Is made collapsible andadjustable to give any desired adjustment and tension for the tensionmember in the application of the device to a hook, nail, or the like.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1, denotes the compressionmember which supports the weight of the garments and 1s 1n turnsupported by the flexible ten- S1011 member 2. This tension member ispreferably of a flexible form such as a chain or cord and has arrangedin it, at a suitable point, a ring or loop 3, by which the wholestructure may be suspended from a hook or nail. There is a dependentsupporting member 4, of the flexible chain, which terminates preferablyin a. clip 5, which is pivoted to one member 6, of the telescopic compression member 1.

Slidably arranged in the member 6, is a cooperating member -7, whichprovides for a greater or lesser length of the compression member 1, asdesired- At'theouter end of the member 7, is a perforated extension 8,through which the flexible member 2, passes, said flexible member beingpreferably prov ded at its end with a hook 9, having a bifurcation 10,which will straddle one link of the chain (provideda chain be used as aflexible member) and will abut and hold agalnst the next succeeding linkof the chain. This arrangement provides for a ready adjustment betweenthe member 2, and the member 1, when the device is applied to a wall andalso serves as a means for holding the parts in place when-they are inknockdown condition, as illustratedin Fig. 2. a

T firmly lock the telescopic members 6, 7, in any desired position ofadjustment, a threaded stud 11, projects from the member 7, through aslot 11 formed in the member 6. A winged nut 12,, and washer 18, thelatter conforming to the outline of the member 6, serve to bind theparts in any desired adjusted position. 7 c

The rear end of the compression member 6, is slotted on its upper faceas at 14, and is provided with filler pieces 15, 16, which serve as aguide and support for the pivot 17.

This pivot serves as a point of attachment for the loop .5, and for auniversal pivot block 18.

I This pivot block 18, has a perforated web 19, through which the pivot17, passes and which in turn rests between the filling pieces 15, 16. Atopposite sides of the web 19, are shoulders 20, 21, which, when thepivot block is in the position of Fig. '1, abut against the end of themember 6. Said member 6, is curved as at 6 to permit the pivot block tobe swung up over the top thereof, so that the members carried by thepivot block may be folded into parallel position with the member 6. a

The rear of the block 18, has a face 22, angularly disposed to theshoulders 20, 21. Extending from said rear face is a pivot 23, threadedto receive a lock-nut and Washer 2 1.

Mounted upon the pivot 23, is a pair of arms 25, 26, which may be swunginto the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 to provide abottomsupport for the hanger, with their lower ends resting against awall or the like. These arms 25, 26, are adjustable about the pivot, sothat they may be ad justed into any desired position against the wallsurface. One of the arms, as at 26, is preferably provided with a stopmember 27, which, when the arms are opened as in Fig. 3, abuts againstthe edge of the other arm 25. The slot 28, permits a close folding ofthe arms when the parts are in the position of Fig. 2.

It will be quite apparent that the angular face 22, of the block 18,provides for various adjustments of the arms 25, 26, toward and awayfrom the wall surface which is quite essential to secure the bestsupporting resuits for the hanger. This angular face also permitsbringing the arms into substantially parallel relation with the member6, when the parts are folded. V 7

Obviously, the various details might be modified to a considerableextent without dcparting from the spirit or intent of the invention, andin place of using tubular mem-. bers for the compression member 1, asillustrated, members of other cross-section might be employed so long asthey are telescopically arranged.

It will be observed that by using the flexible tension member 2, as abinder for the 1 various parts when closed, as indicated in 2, saidparts will be securely held in place, the clip 9, at the end of theflexible member 2, being hooked into a link to hold the chain closelywrapped about the partsf I The arms 25, 26, are in effect adjustable,lateral arms formmg a bottom abutment to rest against the wall andhaving the function of preventing lateral movement of the hanger, theirouter or lower ends being always spaced a considerable distance apart sothat they will abut against the wall at two points on either side of themain supporting or compression member.

The flexible tension member 2, and the adjustable compression member 1,form in effect a vertical strut, while the adjustable arms 25, 26,provide a lateral strut.

What 1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding clothes hanger for supporting a plurality of garmenthangers from a hook comprising a horizontally adjustable compressionmember, a flexible tension member having means of attachment to a hookand providing a support for each e'nd'of the horizontal compressionmember, said compression and tension members forming a vertical strut,and means appurtenant to the end of the compression member forpreventing lateral movement thereof.

2.-A folding clothes hanger for supporting a plurality of garmenthangers from a hook comprising a horizontally adjustable compressionmember, a flexible tension member having means of attachment to a hookand providing a support for each end of the horizontal. compressionmember, said compression and tension members forming a vertical strut,and adjustable means at the end of the compression member providing anabutment therefor and preventing lateral movement thereof.

3. In a device of the character described, embodying a telescopiccompression member, and supporting means therefor, laterally adj'ustablearms pivotally mounted at one end of the telescopic member, whereby saidarms may be adjusted to prevent lateral movement of said member and maybe folded with reference thereto.

4:. In a device of the character described, a vertical strut, comprisingan adjustable telescopic compression member and a flexible andadjustable supporting and tension member, an adjustable abutment at oneend of the compression member, having adjustable arms providing alateral strut to prevent lateral movement ofthe vertical strut.

5. In a device of the character described, a flexible support, and meansfor attaching the same to a hook or the like and comprising a dependentvertical supporting member for one end of the compression member, and atension member adjustable with reference to the opposite end of thecompression member, and a telescopic adjustable compression membersupported at opposite ends by the 6. In a device of the characterdescribed, a telescopically adjustable compression member, a flexiblemember supporting the same and forming therewith a vertical strut, apivot block pivoted to one end of the tele scopic member, and laterallyadjustable arms pivotally arranged upon said pivot block and forming alateral strut and abutment for the vertical strut.

7 In a device of the character described, a vertical flexible supportingmember and a horizontal supporting member, said members forming avertical strut, a block pivoted in said horizontal member provided Withshoulders to engage the end of the h0rizontal member, pivoted arms borneby said block and providing a lateral strut for the horizontal memberand an abutment therefor, said arms and block being so disposed as topermit folding of the arms into substantially parallel relation with thehorizontal member.

8. In a device of the character described embodying a compressionmember, and an adjustable means for supporting the same; a pivot blockpivoted in the end of the compression member and having a pivotangularly disposed to the plane of the aforesaid pivot of the block, andlaterally adjustable arms pivotally arranged upon said pivot to 30 formlateral struts and abutments for the compression member, whereby saidarms may be adjusted and swun into substantially parallel relation to te compression member.

JOSEPH A. SHOEMAKER. Witnesses:

ABRAHAM LIPTON, EDITH J. REMOND.

